Effects of task complexity on individual creativity through knowledge interaction: A comparison of temporary and permanent teams

• Published in: Computers in human behavior 2015-01, Vol.42, p.138-148
• Main Authors: Chae, Seongwook, Seo, Youngwook, Lee, Kun Chang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Complexity; Creativity; Cross sections; Exchange; Human behavior; Individual creativity; Information technology; Knowledge sharing; Mathematical models; Permanent team; Task complexity; Tasks; Team member exchange; Temporary team
• ISSN: 0747-5632; 1873-7692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.015

•Individual creativity improvement becomes different with team characteristics.•Individual creativity is affected by task complexity through knowledge interaction.•Knowledge sharing is essential in supporting creativity in temporary teams.•Team member exchange is crucial in boosting creativity in permanent teams. Using the interactionist’s perspective of creativity, this paper proposes a new research model of creativity manifestation to explore how factors affecting individual creativity depend on team characteristics. We investigated the antecedents of creativity in the literature—task complexity, team member exchange, and knowledge sharing—and then examined the relationships and differences between temporary and permanent teams. To maximize practical implications, we studied two team types like project task force (PTF) and research and development (R&D) teams in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in Korea, where strong creativity is required for team performance. PTF teams operate with a clear mission to be completed on a deadline, while R&D teams create scientific enhancements for existing products. The proposed structural model was tested empirically with cross-sectional data from 289 professionals from the two team types. Results indicated that, in the case of PTF teams, task complexity had an indirect relationship with individual complexity through knowledge interaction among team members, while for R&D teams, task complexity was directly associated with individual creativity, and indirectly associated with the creativity through team member exchange. Thus, team characteristics must be considered together with task complexity and knowledge interactions in order to achieve team goals more effectively by maximizing each member’s creativity.